The Federal Courts

Learn About the Federal Judiciary

The U.S. Courts were created under Article III of the Constitution to administer justice fairly and impartially, within the jurisdiction established by the Constitution and Congress. Explore these resources to learn about different parts of the Federal Judiciary.

The Federal Court System    

• About Federal Courts

• About the U.S. Courts of Appeals

• Court Role and Structure

• Federal Courts and What They Do (pdf)

• Comparing Federal & State Courts

U.S. Constitution & Bill of Rights

• Interactive U.S. Constitution (National Constitution Center)

• Bill of Rights (National Archives)

Federal Judges & Judgeships

• Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges, 1789-present

• FAQs about Federal Judges & Judgeships

• Pathways to the Bench: These videos present the personal, character-building challenges faced by individual judges that prepared them to serve on the bench.

About the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

• The Appeals Process

• History of the First Circuit

• Judges of the First Circuit

• Listen to Oral Arguments

• Read First Circuit Opinions

• Virtual Tour of the Moakley Courthouse